January 17, 2017 – Andrea Dykes, Lesli Foster and Maria Gomez, have been named to the Board of Directors for Washington Area Women’s Foundation, the only donor-supported, public foundation solely dedicated to building economic security for women and girls in the Washington D.C. metro area. They will start their terms immediately. The board also recently approved $825,000 in grants that will be invested in the Washington region in 2017.

Andrea L. Dykes is the Managing Partner of Howard Insurance, a private insurance advisory firm serving the complex risk management needs of its clients since 1945. Andrea is focused on developing strategies to achieve the firms overall vision in addition to leading the firm’s life insurance practice.

Lesli Foster is an award-winning journalist and mainstay of Washington news as a Weeknight Anchor for WUSA9 evening broadcasts Monday through Friday. She also heads the WUSA9 Consumer Unit covering major consumer issues that affect area residents through digital, audio, and social media. Lesli joined the station in 2001 and has covered the major events of our times across the area.

Maria Gomez is the founder of Mary’s Center, a community health organization that provides health care, education and social services in the DC metropolitan region. The goal of Mary’s Center is to provide healthcare early and throughout the individuals’ lifecycle, support families, and guide them to move up the economic ladder through education and training opportunities.

“Andrea, Lesli and Maria all bring talent, energy and unique expertise that will be instrumental in advancing the mission of The Women’s Foundation to build pathways out of poverty for women and their families,” says Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat, President and CEO, The Women’s Foundation. “They all serve as catalysts of change and we are pleased to welcome them to our Board.”

In addition to approving a new slate of board members, the board of directors also voted to invest $825,000 in women and girls. The Foundation’s new investment will impact over 3,300 women and girls across the region and could potentially increase their income and assets by $7 million. Overall, the investment advances The Foundation’s mission by investing in the most strategic programs working to improve the economic security of women and girls in the region.

About Washington Area Women’s Foundation

Washington Area Women’s Foundation is a DC-based public foundation dedicated to mobilizing our community to ensure that economically vulnerable women and girls in the Washington region have the resources they need to thrive. Learn more about The Women’s Foundation’s mission to transform the lives of women and girls, the Washington region, and the world by visiting us online, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Washington Area Women's Foundation mobilizes our community to ensure that economically
vulnerable women and girls in the Washington region have the resources they need to thrive. Since
1998, the Women's Foundation has worked to transform the lives of women and girls in the Washington
region and the world.